Schools
Canterbury's Dream Season Continues
The success stories for the Crusaders' 2011 football squad continue Friday night with its first home playoff game in school history.
ST. PETERSBURG - When Canterbury defeated Admiral Farragut 12-10 earlier this season, it marked the greatest feat in the meager annals of the program.
That may just be a precursor of things to come.
Added to the upset win of the then fourth-ranked team in the state, running back Brent O'Neal established himself as one of the elite running backs to ever carry a football in Pinellas County.
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O'Neal has 1,867 yards and counting for the season. He is currently third behind Dexter McCluster and Brynn Harvey for most yards gained in a season. Not too shabby since McCluster and Harvey are in the NFL, starting running back in college, respectively.
But there is more to the improbable season for the Crusaders. This is the first season the team has qualified for a playoff berth. Friday night, Canterbury hosts Naples Saint John Neumann High School, the first home playoff game in Canterbury history.
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"We're pretty excited," Canterbury coach Bill Jones said. "Things are going great for the kids, they are having a blast. We hope to do some damage in the playoffs."
It seems that the playoffs have come at a perfect time for Canterbury as the team is peaking. The Crusaders defense is giving up an average of just seven points a game over the past four games, while the offense is racking up 30 points a game.
"Yes, we are peaking," Jones said. "About three weeks ago we were starting to really put it together."
Part of the reason the Crusaders are humming has been the development of quarterback Jake Holsinger. Earlier in the season the Canterbury offense was mostly O'Neal left, O'Neal right and O'Neal up the middle.
Now that Holsinger has established himself as a weapon, opposing defenses can no longer key on O'Neal, which makes running for O'Neal that much easier.
"Jake is special," Jones said.
It helps that Holsinger has a weapon like wide receiver Desean Thomas.
"Everything is working out," Thomas said with a monster grin. "This is a wonderful feeling."
Kickoff for Friday's game is 7 p.m.
